U.S. relief organizations are urgently appealing for emergency assistance to aid the victims of the devastating earthquake that struck Caribbean nation of Haiti recently. The quake, which registered 7.0 on the Richter scale, triggered a tsunami warning for neighboring countries situated in the Caribbean Sea. The earthquake was centered about 14 miles west of the capital city, Port-au-Prince and the news has been reporting wide spread devastation. Funds are urgently needed to provide safe water, temporary shelter systems, essential medical supplies etc. Haiti is the poorest country in the western hemisphere and has a population of 9.6 million inhabitants, of which more than half are under 21 years old. U.S. relief organizations like UNICEF have been working for years in Haiti developing long term solutions to current problems caused by poverty and lack of basic health care, education and sanitation services. The country has been suffering from long-term political strife and a severely depressed economy as well. In recent years the effects of the global food crisis and particularly strong hurricane seasons have left the country dangerously vulnerable and this catastrophe is only serving to exacerbate the already critical situation for the people of Haiti, especially women and children. LucidMedia is actively participating in raising relief funds for this emergency. To donate to the ongoing emergency relief efforts in Haiti and the Caribbean region, please visit www.unicefusa.org/haitiquake or call 1-800-4UNICEF.
